Atalanta continue to shine in another fairytale season for the Bergamo based club. On Friday it was announced that they would be playing Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-finals. Based on reputation, most would see this as a win for PSG. Atalanta cannot be overlooked, however, as they are playing some of the best football in Europe.
Atalanta Cannot Be Overlooked in Champions League
Domestic Competition
Atalanta currently sit at third in the Serie A table. They’re not necessarily in the title hunt with seven matches left but are bound to qualify for Champions League once again.
They were already on fire before the season’s restart and their hot form has continued. As of right now, their record this past month stands at six victories in six matches. This includes victories over strong teams such as Lazio and Napoli. On Saturday night, however, they will face a tough match-up versus Juventus.
What stands out for Atalanta is their extremely potent attack. They’ve scored 85 goals in 31 matches in Italy this season. That’s good for the top goal difference in the league at +46.
When looking at statistics, it’s incredible to see how the offensive wealth is spread. Josip Ilicic has 15 goals and five assists; Duvan Zapata has 14 goals and five assists; Alejandro Gomez has six goals and 15 assists; Luis Muriel has 17 goals and an assist; Robin Gosens has nine goals and six assists. The list goes on and on.
Typical superstar names won’t jump off the 11 for Atalanta. The team, however, is a fantastically run cohesive unit.
Champions League
Atalanta made their Champions League debut this season. It didn’t begin on the best terms, but they shifted the tide and were able to finish second in Group C behind Manchester City.
They matched up against Valencia in the round of 16, a tie that many thought could’ve gone either way. Atalanta ended the debate early with a 4-1 drubbing in the first leg. Their defence struggled in the second leg, allowing three goals, but the attack shined once again putting in four in the back of the net.
Looking at what the club has done in Champions League, it’s safe to say their defence is a tad vulnerable. Not to say that’s their downfall, but it is certainly a ‘weakness’. With that being said, the rate in that their attack can score masks any other issues.
PSG have the star names and the Champions League experience on their squad. Atalanta, however, cannot be overlooked as their team chemistry is off the charts. In addition, with low expectations in this competition, are essentially playing with nothing to lose.
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